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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Prelude to 2010
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on May 12, 2008 For the Standard Today, May 13 issue TONY ON TV: Tony Abaya will be interviewed by Harry Tambuatco on �Talk News TV� on Channel 3, Destiny Cable, on Thursday, May 15, from 7:45 to 8:45 pm, on the various issues of the day. There will be no other guests. ********** In his presentation last week at the Asian Institute of Management, on the 2010 presidential elections, political analyst Tony Gatmaitan made his usual pitches about the Lucena-Lingayen corridor, the relative strengths of the Kampi-Lakas, NP, LP, NPC and PDP-Laban and their announced or expected nominees, the role of radio and TV ads in the campaign, etc. He spoke in a lecture sponsored by the Futuristics Center , of which I am a director. Tony Gat did drop a bombshell of sorts that few in the audience may have expected, to wit, that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno was the �secret candidate� of Lakas-Kampi. As one of the reactors to Tony Gat, I agreed that Puno was indeed a potential successor to President Arroyo � I did mention it in an earlier column � but my sense is that it will not happen in 2010 because President Arroyo intends to stay in power beyond that year, either as prime minister under a parliamentary set-up, or as president without term limits if we retain the presidential system. That is really the reason for the continued and insistent agitation for charter change in both the Lower House and, now, the Senate, even after the people�s initiative of the Sigaw ng Bangaw was junked by the Supreme Court, and even after the obscene maneuver of then Speaker Jose de Venecia to convene the Lower House into a constituent assembly, without the participation of the oppositionist Senate, to amend the Constitution, was hooted down by the public, in 2006.. Puno can plan on 2016 or 2022. So also should Mar, Manny, Ping, Loren, Dick, Sonny, Bayani, Erap, Jejomar and other ambitious wannabes, unless an act of God or Allah or Mars (the Roman god of war) intervenes and spoils the best laid plan of mice and men (and power-drunk women). I reminded the audience of the uncanny accuracy of my crystal ball. On Dec. 30, 2002, President Arroyo promised that she would not run in 2004. In my article titled She Will Run, published in May 2003, I wrote that she would, and she did. After the party caucus of Kampi in February 2005, in which then Kampi President Ronaldo Puno stated the strategic goal of Kampi to become the biggest political party by 2007 � three years before the end of GMA�s non-extendable presidential term � I wrote in Prime Minister Gloria? and GMA Forever, both published in 2005, that President Arroyo was planning to remain in power beyond 2010, as prime minister. And, sure enough, in 2006 we saw the separate maneuvers of Sigaw ng Bangaw and De Venecia to engineer a shift to parliamentary. These articles are archived and can be read in my website www.tapatt.org, unless someone is blocking access to it. So when I say that President Arroyo is planning to remain in power beyond 2010 � by doing a Vladimir Putin � I am not speculating idly.. And what would be the issues in 2010? Tony Gat had his usual laundry list. I have mine. I am concerned with only two issues: a) food sufficiency or insufficiency and its impact on a rapidly multiplying population; and b) the possible resumption of hostilities in Mindanao and Sulu. I reminded the audience that by the year 2014 (or only six years from now), we will number 100 million; and by the year 2050 (or only 42 years from now), we will number 199 million. Where in the world will we find the food (and the water, the energy, the fuel, the schools, the housing and the jobs) for such a massive population, when we can barely provide for a population of �only� 90 million? In its Medium Term Development Plan, made public � I believe � in September or October 2001, the Arroyo administration articulated its strategic goal of focusing on only three sectors: agriculture, tourism and information technology. The welcome proliferation of call centers and business processing enterprises, not only in Metro Manila but in many other urban centers in the provinces, is proof that President Arroyo was very successful in this sector, whether or not her administration did anything concrete to promote this industry.. The second preferred sector, tourism, is only a middling success. We drew in only 3.0 million tourists in 2007. Vietnam overtook us last year with 4.2 million. Indonesia surpassed us long ago; it now draws in six million, even though we each drew in one million in 1991. Let�s not even compare ourselves with Thailand (13 million tourists), Malaysia (16 million) and Hong Kong (26 million). It is in agriculture that the Arroyo administration must be rated a failure. I cannot imagine how any government could claim to focus on agriculture without making a specific effort to be self-sufficient in the most important crop, rice. Especially since we are host to the International Rice Research Institute, to become the biggest rice importer in the world is an irony beyond comprehension. It is like Italy becoming the world�s biggest importer of pasta. President Arroyo has vowed to make the country self-sufficient in rice by the year 2010. Why didn�t she think of this in 2001? If she had, there would have been specific measures taken as early as 2001 to increase production and to limit population growth. .. As for Mindanao and Sulu, this problem looms as an 800-pound gorilla, more menacing than the food and population issue. The peace between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Manila government has been tenuous at best. It now looks ephemeral and dicey. Malaysia , a major player in the international monitoring team that has kept that peace, has just withdrawn most of its military contingent from Mindanao . Do the Malaysians know something that we don�t? It certainly looks that way. In any negotiation, when one party wants to break off the negotiations without bearing the onus for the break-off, it will make demands that it knows the other party cannot meet, and thus put the blame on the other party for the impasse. That seems to be the case here as the talks bogged down on the issue of ancestral domain. The Bangsamoro have demanded that their ancestral domain should include Palawan , clearly an unacceptable demand. Will the MILF now break off negotiations and resume hostilities? Even if the peace holds, there are other issues that complicate the problem. Certainly the majority Christian populations in urban centers in the present Autonomous Regions of Muslim Mindanao (ARRM) do not relish the prospect of being included in the ancestral domain of the Bangsamoro. Will they now re-arm as they did in the 1970s? There is also the rivalry between the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF from which the MILF had split in the 1990s. The MNLF wanted to set up a secular state, the MILF prefer an Islamic state under Sharia Law. And keep in mind that the problem of Moro secession flared up in the 1970s after President Ferdinand Marcos� plan to invade Sabah ( North Borneo ) was exposed after the so-called Jabidah Massacre in which the core of that invasion force was massacred in Corregidor Island . As payback, Malaysia , with the aid of British intelligence, stoked the fires of separatism that lasts to this day. Malaysia has been accused of being partial towards the MILF. Do the Malaysians know something that we don�t? We will find out before 2010. Sen. Pimentel�s espousal of federalism before the end of President Arroyo�s term may be an attempt to stave off secession. But to the Bangsamoro, it may be too little too late. To them, it may look more like a sign of weakness. It is either Palawan or nothing. ***** Reactions to t[email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Prelude to 2010� More Reactions to �P500 per Vote� Hi Tony: May I ask you to identify our Futuristics Center as the organizer of the conferences and the AIM as merely the venue. I got feedbacks: "Is the Futuristics Ccenter a part of the AIM?" "What is the relation between the AIM and your Center?" "Is the Futuristics Center housed in the AIM?" "What floor can I find the Center at AIM? I am a foreign student at AIM but I don't see the Center." Thanks and cheers. Gil Santos, (by email), May 14, 2008 President, Center for Futiristics Studies and Management wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony. I doubt it if GMA CAN stay after 2010. Masyado daming galit, Tony, more so with the middle class.. Kahit anung gawing spin pa, people have already made up their minds. Mike Delgado, (by email), May 14, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you, Tony. Sad, very sad indeed.Llike the "climate change" scenario of Al Gore's description. Victor Manalac, (by email), May 14, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, We share the same political foresight as what will be happening beyond year 2010. Definitely GMA will stay in power but not in a Presidential form of government but in a Federal and Parliamentary form of government. Nobody can defeat Erap in a Presidential election, that is why opposition Senators are hurrying up Chacha. With regards to population explosion by year 2050, don't worry, there will be regional wars between countries, thus reducing population to the minimum. There is an urgent need to prepare, get united and work together, because when we are defeated by other nation, our people will be reduced to slavery! We might not be here anymore, but our sons and daughters will be the one to suffer. All what we have will all be pulverised to the ground. Rodolfo Cada, (by email), May 14, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: I am concerned with only two issues: a) food sufficiency or insufficiency and its impact on a rapidly multiplying population; and b) the possible resumption of hostilities in Mindanao and Sulu. Do you still consider the "phenomenon" in Mindanao and Sulu as due to "ideology"??? Have you not considered that it is all just a "money game" for both the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the anti-RP forces/factions? What do you you must ge done should there be "peace:" in Mindanao ? Have you yet to consider that "war" whether external or internal is merely a "money game"? Joseph Midan C. Nepomuceno, (by email), May 14, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: Here is the article that discussed the topic of your column: Tony Abaya Is Wrong: PGMA Cannot Stay in Power Beyond June 2010 Many Overseas-Filipino community leaders say that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) will not be able to duplicate what then President Ferdinand E. Marcos did in 1972 � declare martial law and prolong his presidency. In fact, Washington, DC-based writer, Ado Paglinawan, goes further by predicting that if President Arroyo will decide to stay in power after June 30, 2010, she would leave the presidential palace in a horizontal position. Bobby Reyes, (by email), May 14, 2008 (But this �prediction� does not prove me wrong or right. It is merely someone spouting off his wish that President Arroyo would be shot dead before June 30, 2010. That is nothing but dreaming as wish-fulfillment. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony. I consider myself a reasonably positive person but your article offers nothing but the same onus of leadership in the future. I foresee nothing else but gloom and doom. That is a horrible scenario visually from my vantage point in America . We can repeatedly compare over and over again how dismal is our economic status with neighboring Asian countries but it does not seem to affect brains in the corridors of powers. But rather they are too busy pocketing or stealing funds to increase their wealth which admittedly belongs to the country and its people. In spite of the intelligentsia and the power of the press in the Philippines , why has there been no chilling effect on graft and corruption? Not even EDSA I and II peoples power movement left an intelligible significance only realistically as a moral crusade. I am a Catholic and adhere to the culture of life. However, the growth control of population must be addressed from religious, moral and economic perspectives. From the religious aspect a means of complete abstinence, practice of natural cyclical control and introduction of contraceptives. Morally I feel it is wrong to bring children into the world when parents cannot provide basic necessities, period. Parents must make such judgment and moral decision. Bringing up children is not an act of God but by individuals. What most people do not understand is that irresponsibility and accountability of such acts are prerequisite to parenthood. Otherwise, without them people revert to lower forms of animals without the concept of parenthood and reducing procreation merely to producing puppies. Without control and regulations of anything it will eventually bite your behind. With uncontrolled population the economy will severely be impacted. Without control of supply factor.it will affect education, quality of life and the total country's way of life and its ability to negotiate and maintain political leverage in import and trade exports. It is a total shame the country can't get its act together. We do need moral heroes to step up the plate and make viable changes. Unfortunately there are so many sleaze in the government. That is a sad commentary. I will be visiting the Philippines 5/15 through 5/31 and immerse myself in our culture. It is the only positive thing I look forward to. I will meet my friend , one of the 12 apostles and have a discussion on fol-de-rol. I may learn something and then AGAIN I MIGHT SURPRISE HIM with relevant questions. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA , May 15, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, There is no doubt that GMA is trying anything to remain in power beyond 2010. No matter if for sheer power hunger or she need it for to remain untouchable immune from any investigation and prosecution. With all the more and more witnesses, pictures and other facts, she cannot risk a president in 2010 who would strip her from all privileges and prosecute the Arroyos as it happened to Estrada. It is clear to see at all the military and police efforts to silence any opposition, military or civilian. In fact, the suppression is now worse in many circumstances than during Martial Law. Only that now anything will be "legalized" by Congress and even Supreme Court. Then they call it democratic. If only 10 percent of all the allegations about graft, corruption and kickbacks to the Arroyo family are true, then they have too much to hide and to secure as it might be possible until 2010. Therefore, it is maybe much easier to manipulate the system into a favorable for them. There will be more than enough solons and other politicians who will participate because they also profit in some ways. Regarding the achievements, you are very correct. Telling about a big increase of tourists is easy if it starts to count at a very low level. And too, it is not the same if instead of well spending US or European tourists now a big number of Asian or Russian tourists come in, who usually request the cheapest group rates with very little additional personal spending. For to increase tourism from more lucrative countries, RP has first to realize that it is now one of the most expensive destinations with a very low level of comfort, environment, safety etc etc., which is important to such tourists. Not to mention the extreme changed habit of many Filipinos toward tourists. Visitors are good and welcome, at least face to face, as long as they spend much and accept anything. If not, soon they become unwanted foreigners who better should leave or be deported. Of course, if they invested money in RP, that can remain. The old natural friendliness with "what's your name, from where are you" has changed to "hey man, give me money" even to youngest Filipinos already. Lastly, the merciless destroying of natural surroundings and converting into resorts, golf courses, artifically prepared beaches with rising concrete monsters instead of that nature a tourist wants when coming from places where he or she works the year over within similar concrete surroundings. Look at Bohol-Panglao. Dubbed as tourist spot #1, there will be a new international airport just around the corner of the super expensive resorts and new hotels. More stupid is not easy possible but probably there can so much be earned from overpriced selling of land and kickbacks out of the multibillion project, that all other facts do not matter anymore. Regarding the food and job crisis, it is a shame that RP was becoming a rice exporter during Marcos' time and is now the biggest rice importer. It is because of the brainsick idea that RP has to become a high-tech industrialized country for to become a rich country. Not in 50 years RP will be able to compete with the industrialized western societies, no matter how loud the advertising of the "super skilled" Filipinos is. There is already the complaining of the business sector about lacking skilled, well educated professionals because the standard is low and the better ones go abroad. Aside of all this, competing the existing industrialized societies would only make them more and more unable and unwilling to spend the billions on loans and credits they spend now to less developed countries. Who will want to feed up its own competitors? To become competitive, RP would have to be lowest in labor expenses or to change to machines and automation. The first cannot match the permanent rising prices, the latter would make millions jobless. Being a modern, efficient agrarian country, RP could now hold the local prices down and export its rice and corn with big profit, instead of going around and begging for rice at high prices. Only the people can change the situation, not a change of the governing system. Hope some would listen to you and then react. Kurt Setschen, (by email), Switzerland , May 15, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Will the power of the pen be enough to avert the sinister plan of this power-drunk woman? Anyway, the proliferation of call centers, I believe, could be attributed to the fact that in Asia except probably for Singapore , we have the number when it comes to English literacy. There is also the pay scale and the living standards that were taken into consideration. As far as I am concerned, Gloria Arroyo has contributed tremendously to the misery of the Filipino people. Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City , May 15, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) Hi Auggie: In my view, both Tony Abaya and Bobby Reyes are right and wrong. Bobby is correct to say that GMA cannot go beyond 2010, but only if she follows the Constitution. He is wrong therefore to assume that she will. And that is where Tony Abaya comes in. He is wrong to say that GMA will go beyond 2010 if he meant "constitutionally". But he is right that GMA can go beyond 2010, if she violates the constitution. (Obviously you haven�t read or understood any of my many articles in which I wrote that President will remain in power beyond 2010 by having the Constitution changed so that she will be prime minister under a parliamentary set-up, like Vladimir Putin in Russia, or as president without term limits, if we retain the presidential system. ACA) On second thought, she does not even have to violate the constitution. She can declare martial law with the approval of a compliant Congress, under the provisions of the present Constitution, and remain President with the support of the military. And that is why there is a need for at least one of the Houses of Congress (currently, the Senate) to be independent of Malacanang. If the Senate or the House of Representative (preferably both) remains independent, there is a chance martial law may not stick. GMA will have to disregard the Congress to do it and, in the process, commit a gross violation of the Constitution. Tony Figueroa, (by email), May 15, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. My fearless forecast: Mar Roxas will be the next President. What with a campaign kitty of not less than P10 billion pesos! GMA will eventually will move towards him and Mar will need GMA because she holds the Comelec. Macapagal, the former President was LP the reason for GMA's moving to LP. All Manual Roxas awardees since 1959 have been contacted already to help in Mar's campaign. There are (according to friends in the ground) moves to consolidate the LP in the Visayas which will eventually unite for Mar. Danding has reportedly assured Mar of his support. The Lopezes reportedly will not only have their media empire support Mar but will actually contribute to Mar's campaign kitty. This Judy Roxas' last wish that Mar like his grandfather (also a Manuel Roxas) be the next President. Gerardo Delgado. (by email), Changmai , Thailand , May 15, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Abaya, I agree with what you stated and Iearn much from your analysis. I would just like to make certain remarks on the two issues. 1. Food sufficiency or insufficiency and its impact on a rapidly multiplying population a. It is due to sluggish development in the agriculture sector particularly rice production that caused our being an increasing rice importer despite the IRRI�s presence in the country. Among others, one major factor could be the country�s lower employment rate in the agriculture sector which is about 35% of the total labor force as compared with Vietnam �s 55.8% and Cambodia �s 75%. It must be noted that Vietnam and Cambodia have higher GDP growth rate and lower unemployment rate than the Philippines . b. With regards to population, your population estimate by year 2050 at 199 Million (based on 2007 population of 88.57 M growing at 1.9%) may not be the case considering the statistical trend. The population growth rate from 1970 to 2007 (8 statistical years) shows a decreasing trend from 3.08 % to 2.04 %, respectively. By doing a regression line analysis, by 2030 the population growth rate will reach 1.5 % and it will be 1.0 % in 2050. If we apply the average growth rate of 1.5%, then by year 2050 the population would be about 168 million or a density of 560 persons per km.sq. which is still lower than Taiwan �s present density of 637 and Taiwan �s topography is similar to that of the Philippines . If the country�s political economic elite who used to control the government and business, despite their having conflict due to vested interests which is common in a market economy, will follow the footsteps of Taiwan and if both Japan and the United States who helped Taiwan elevate to its present status will also help the Philippines which should have been done before, then the country can be able to keep pace with the level of economic development being experienced by our closed neighbors like Taiwan and Malaysia. 2 Possible resumption of hostilities in Mindanao and Sulu a. I understand that 14 provinces which are located in the western half of Mindanao as well as Palawan are considered as the Bangsa Moro territories in historical extent (ancestral domain) with ARMM presently under control by the Bangsa Moro. b. Why Malaysia is partial to the MILF could be due to the fact that the southern tip of Palawan and Tawi-tawi are very closed to Sabah , Malaysia which is an Islamic state being the one proposed by the MILF as against the secular state proposed by the MNLF. Moreover, there could be remaining sort of conflict between Malaysia and the Philippines due to the aborted Sabah invasion during Marcos regime and the fact that both were colonies of and presently under certain influences by Great Britain and the United States, respectively. Ed Enderez, (by email), May 16, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �P500 per Vote� (May 02, 2008) Ka Tony (Abaya), Ang mga pahayag mo ay mabisang diklap ng liwanag na dapat tumanggap ng puspusang paglimi ng ating mga kalahi. Our present regime will become a glaring blotch in this country's history; whose handiwork and preoccupations are to nurture a nation of mendicants, a country of lazy beggars; the scums of the earth! Ang dalangin ko: "Dakilang Ama, huwag mo pong tulutan na ang aming lahi ay malusaw sa balat ng lupa. Sagipin mo po ang aming Inang Bayan at ang kanyang mga inanak sa pagiging patuluyang alipin ng ibang mga lahi. Liwanagan Mo po ang landas na tinatahak ng aming mga inanak, at itulot Mo pong magwakas na ang pamamayani ng mga buwitreng nasa pamunuan ng aming pamahalaan." "A m e n . "Siya nawa!" Irineo Perez Goce, (by email), Lipa City , May 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I think it is in the nature of all of us to want to help the poor amongst us. But as equally we are also guided that we all must ultimately learn to fend for ourselves. Dole-outs are done on emergency situations such as in giving to fire victims and calamities or sudden illnesses. But such acts work within a timeframe and cut-offs. We can enumerate dozens of job possibilities for the less fortunate. Let us bear in mind that they are poor not because all are lazy but simply because there have been no opportunities (didn't the OFW leave for other countries because there just wasn't enough provided by government for them here ?). There are streets to be cleaned, sewers and canals to be unclogged, walls to be painted, markets to be cleaned, hospitals that need aides, schools that can benefit from more janitors, maintenance people, grass cutters, offices whose toilets need constant mopping, washing, sanitizing, etc....Government CAN provide if they really want to - and without having to expect political support in the future. The US has its Welfare Program. It is a rich nation and knows how to take care of its poor, yet there are bums, and some of them die from the cold or heat for lack of living quarters, and hunger. We cannot copy that. We may not be as rich, but think of all the money lost to corruption. These should be enough to pay wages and still achieve the same effect of feeding the hungry -- but from hard work and initiative. Government people just find it hard to start where it truly and effectively matters : themselves. Victor Manalac, (by email), May 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Your suggestions that it is better that the present administration should have grouped them together, build cooperatives and establish manufacturing business is a correct approach better than dole outs. It just like arguing if we better gave hem the egg or the hen. maybe it could be the second level of approach. We can not forced any single idea to the poor when they are starving to death. AsIi was telling to my children when the 1997 financial crisis made me very broke, my house was foreclosed by PNB; my supplier are suing me for not being able to pay; they can not go to school; and worst we have not so much food to eat, I just tell them jokes while we eat, and teach them more about GOD and his miracles in our lives. I told them there three things that we have to feed, not only our stomach: 1. Our hearts - with Joy counting our blessing with the rest of the World, and Love of God 2. Our Mind - with the learnings we got from experience and formal education, will made us strong in times of troubles, to overcome the test of times, and 3. Our body - to fight the disease, that health is wealth and that a healthy body is a healthy mind, preparing us to overcome hardship and make freater wins out of small ones. I told them, to be good waiter, to wait for a geat oppurtunity that lies ahead, if they are strong all over - and my teachings came true. The simple lesson is - I taught them not to go against the tide. They should be modern activist learned how to feed first themselves before teaching others. Tryrants are only in your mind. it is true anymore today when you are learned and educated. Just keep on going and remember the 3 things I taught them always. Now they are all professionals, earning much more than they consume, paid PNB and started our business anew. Me, with nothing to do, focus on oganizing the urban poor, helping them finally attain CMP with SHFC, and further pursue my studies to achieve a Doctors degree. That is life- sometimes it is sour, sometimes it is sweet, you have to select your perfect mix. You cannot get it elboing with another guy or with the rest of the World! Thank you for giving me space! Rodolfo Cada, (by email), May 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: �If I were president, I would not give handouts to the poorest of the poor. I would instead organize them into manufacturing and service cooperatives, to produce goods and services for which there is a real need and demand.� If I were president, my job would be to see to it that institutions function as mandated. I will not do their work for them. Decentralization or local autonomy devolves more tasks to LGU�s. Presidential agencies trains and polices them. (You don�t think I know that? But the Cooperative Development Agency will not, on its own, do it unless the President announces it as a national policy and Congress allots the necessary funding. It all boils down to creative and imaginative leadership, which this country has never had. ACA) In contrast, now the President is assigned too many functions which could best be handled at the local levels.. Who can check on her? We have seen how helpless Congress and the courts are.. Media can only cry, foul! No more. Taxj Eustaquio Jovem, (by email), May 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww As I said with glee, Tony, you are now holding court worldwide, attracting Filipinos and non Filipinos to your magnetizing and oh so erudite columns, day after day. Now, as I browse through your latest, I am caught by this passage...from you in bold letters: (As I wrote in the article "P500 per Vote", if I were president, instead of giving dole-outs [P500 to P1,400 a month] to the poorest of the poor, I would organize them into manufacturing and service co-operatives to produce goods and services for which there is a real need and demand. Thus they would receive monthly incomes several times bigger than the P500-to-P1,400 a month promised by APP, which is preferred by the Arroyo government as it is a convenient cover for buying signatures in the ChaCha referendum in 2009, and for buying votes in the 2010 parliamentary elections. And using taxpayers money for it. ACA) I have a rejoinder here. Following your suggestion, perhaps it is best to start a "system" which will be similar to yours but in sequence. First, conduct a professional survey of the poor, starting with the urban poor in districts. In the survey, every person considered poor in a particular family will be listed in a general database containing everything about him/her [e.g. name, age, health, skills, etc.] The database will be similar to the ones we have in SSS, GSIS, NBI, LTC, etc. [so it will include fingerprints, affiliations, police record if any] Second, the very old of the said family member will be assessed on whether he/she can still be trained for a skill. If so, train the person {funding will come in later paragraph]; the next level the husband and wife will be checked as to known skills, etc. and if able, will hone those skills and get the person a job [recruitment also follows later] the young ones if not schooling should be sent to school and if a perennial drop out will go to a special rigid school - to learn a craft [plumbing, auto mechanic, dishwashing, waitering, etc.] Others may also be assigned to cleaning up their respective "homes" including their esteros and surroundings and get paid for their effort..and assign individuals to continue maintaining this type of hygiene and sanitation. Third, once the entire family is recorded on a database, they will undergo training as needed. Fourth, Funding will come from the wealthy 5 % of the population. These corporations or foundations will contribute 1% of total annual gross income into a TRAINING FUND to be administered by select private individuals of impeccable reputation. As we progress with this program we will hope to achieve the following: * begin to use HUMAN RESOURCES hitherto unused, untrained, and unnoticed benefiting themselves and the community. * begin to provide income for these former welfare groups and become productive * produce new businesses for the community and the city. Tony Joaquin, (by email), Daly City , CA , May 11, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Kuya Tony C. Abaya, Re this "RX to "P500 per Vote," is this constitutional or legal? ART. VI SEC.29 (1) provides that: "No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law." "Paid out" or 'taken out' is that the meaning? If any public official can do this 'taking, paying or whatever' of public money, this practice should be stop. This is public money. Kudos to those who give response or comments to the articles in this side of Kuya Tony, who shows "love of country and people," but to those who are the targets of the criticisms of these articles, do not have "love of country and people." That's what everyone of us need to have. Simple as that. Not love for our pockets only. Let us always hope that one day many of us will really show love of country and people. More power to you, Kuya Tony. Thanks. Leona Guera, (by email), Australia , May 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww .Calling Rev. Bert Dellosa Dear Mr. Abaya, I am a proud follower of your article and read all the reactions from people. I would like to say hi to Rev. Bert Dellosa. I wonder where he is originally from? I am from Bacon District, Sorsogon City , but now living in Calamba Laguna. Ernie Dellosa, [email protected], Calamba, Laguna, May 12, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I agree with the thinking that the stipend for the poorest of the poor will not do them (the poor and poorest) much good to improve their lives. and I agree with those who propose the alternative of giving jobs of whatever nature is better. Those in Malacanang are smart, foxy, wily. There is always some hidden intention somewhere. But I think that the immediate intention is to prevent any " haiti " type of uprising that can be fuelled by the opposition. Douse the area with water before a fire starts. Victor Manalac, (by email), May 10, 2008 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |